Dry-cleaning machine



n Mar.A 3, 1925.

E. Y. WHITE DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l gnucnfoz Edward Wie Mams, 1925. 1,528,714

E. Y. WHITE DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1923 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 FEE.

Edu/fd fil/.kite

Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,714

E. Y.AwH|TE DRY CLEANING MACHINE yFiled March 26, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lUNITEDsv'rpfrias PATENT or-Flclaf` EDWARD Y. WHITE, 0F SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

DRY-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application led March 26, 1923. Serial No. 627,875.

To all whom t may concern: .I

Be it known that I, EDWARD YOUNG WHITE, a citizen of the United Sltates, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to dry cleaning machines, i. e., machines for cleaning fabrics by leaching or percolation with gasoline or similar cleansing fluids, and it is an object of the same to provide means whereby the time-for clarification of the gasoline 'used is greatly reduced.

A Another object 1s to provide anfouter'res-- ervoir in addition to the reservoir in the usual casing, said outer reservoir having an outlet at its upper end and a mud pot being provided at its lower end with means for cutting off communication between the reser'voir and the mud pot. In this construction also the. inner reservoir is arranged to terminate directly above the stop cock in ,thepassage leading to the mud potto further facilitate the separation of foreign matter from the gasoline.

l A further object is to provide the main casing with a door so mounted as to open Vvery readily in the event of explosions-and a drum in said casing having an opening in line with the door, no further means being provided however for closing said opening. This combination of a doorless drum and a combined door and relief valve on the outer casing permits the machine to be loaded while running and also permits the operator to watch the goods without stopping the machine.

Another object is to provide an improved process of dry cleaning whereby the goods are treated with clean gasoline only.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for. continuously pouring clean gasoline ove'i` the clothing to be cleansed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a front view of a preferred form of my improved machine with parts broken away to showthe interior structure.

Figure 2, a side view ofthe same-with parts broken away to show substantially a vertical central section, and

Figure 3, a front view of a modified form.

In the drawings reference character 10 indicatesv the main casing of the machine which is -divided on a horizontal plane for `convenience in assembling and is provided at its forward end with a door 11 pivoted at 12. The door is supported in inclined positionby a flanged en-d closure 13 secured to the end of the casing and is made light and well balanced so that it may fly open very readily in case of an `explosion due to accumulation of gas in the casing and will close again automatically. opened the dooriwillremain in open position ydue to gravity.

When fully A hollow drum 14 is journaled in the casblocks are positioned andadjusted to compensate for wear. This drum has an opening at its front en-d corresponding in size to the opening in the casing whereby the drum may be loaded with garments without stopping the machine and whereby also the working of the machine may be observed without stopping the machine. This is important, for example in the case of colored fabrics since it frequently happens that the colors are not fast and by this arrangement an operator seeing that the colors are beginning to run can remove the fabrics before serious damage is done.

At the otherend ,the drum is closedrsave for a central opening at 18 and a hollow spindle 19 is secured in an end plate 20 of the drum, said spindle providing a journal for the drum rotatable in a bearing on casing 10 and'carrying at its outer free end a being secured at their end to the adjacent flanges of the drum and the ribs extend inward from the screen and serve to agitate the garments or other textiles in the drum. The speed of rotation of the drum is such that the fabrics remain at the bottom of the drum where they are manipulated while at the same time thegasoline falls on the fabrics and passes through them removing the impurities.

Below the drum the main casing has a Itapering extension terminating in a conduit 24 leading downward. An outer casing 25 is provided beneath the axis of the drum said outer casing being connected t o the main or inner casing by an air-tight joint. At its lower end the outer casing has a casting 26 secured thereto and this casting at its lower end carries a mud pot 27 which is removably secured to the casting so that it can readily be taken off and cleaned. The passage leading to the mud pot is directly beneath the outlet from the inner casing and extends straight down. A valve 28 is provided in this passage. This valve serves to cut ofi' the mud pot 'from the reservoirs normally communicating therewith, i. e., the inner reservoir in the inner casing and the outer reservoir between the inner and the outer casing. A threaded plug 29 in the casting, provides for draining the reservoirs. Opposite the plug is a connection to a pipe 30 having a plug 3l which when open serves to drain the reservoirs into the underground system. i

Near the upper end of the outer reservoir a pipe 32 is connected thereto for draining off the used gasoline after removal of the coarser impurities by the action of gravity. A pump is shown at 33 which draws the gasoline or other cleaning fluid through the pipe 32 and forces it .through a pipe 34 to theA upper end ofa centrifugal separator 35 whence the cleaned gasoline is returned by a pipe 36 through the hollow spindle of the drum to theinterior of the drum as shown in Figure 2. A pulley 37'is shown for driv-. ing the separator in usual manner, the device in the drawings' representing a conventional separator which may be replaced by any other centrifugal separator adapted for the purpose. l l

In the modified form of Figure 3 a pipe 33 is connected to the outer reservoir for draining off the used gasoline. yAs in Figure 1 the' connection is made at the point where the fluid will be freest from impurities and where its outward current will interfere `least with the settling action in the reservoir.

This pipe terminates near the lower end of a compartment 39 in which is provided a saline solution filling the compartment to some distance above the lower end of the pipegfor cleaning the gasoline which, as will be evident.. flows down from the inner reser- 'line or other cleaning Legame voir to the lower end thereof by gravity, thence upward in the outer reservoir to the pipe 38, then to the bottom of the compartment 39 by gravity and thence upwardy to the top of the compartment. Impurities in the gasoline passing downward in the inner reservoir will continue on into the mud drum and this action is increased by the bend in the current just above the valve 28. Furthermore impurities that pass this point will tend to return against the slow upward current and finally land in the mud pot, whence they can be removed by turning the valve 28 without stopping the machine, the mud pot being then emptied or replaced by a clean one if desired.

The gasoline rising in the compartment 39 passes to a pipe 40 leading down tothe bottom of a compartment 4l containing water to a level above the lower end of the pipe which serves to further clean the gasoline. The gasoline in this compartment is removed by a pump through a pipe 42 which communicates with the pipe 21 in the spindle 19 and serves to establish a continuous circulation of the gasoline. The connection at 44 serves to bring gasoline from the underground storage system for supplying the machine with gasoline, as on rst starting the machine. At this time the gasoline is permitted to flow until it rises to the level of the dotted line in Figure 2, such level being preferably below the lower margin of the` drum. This insures that the only cleansing fluid-which comes in contact with the fabrics is that which enters the drum through the pipe 21 and passes through the fabric, such fabrics not` being 'submerged or partiallyl submerged in solid cleaning Huid as has hitherto been customary.

A pipe 45 at the lower end of compartment 39 leads to the sewer for draining the contents when it is desired to empty the compartment, and a similar pipe 46 leads from the bottom of compartment 4l to the sewer for a similar purpose. Pipes 47 and 48 are connected to the respective compartments above the level of the saline solution and the water in the said compartments. These pipes serve for draining off thegasofluid in the compart-l ments when desired, they being opened by means of the valves indicated, before open. ing the valves in pipes 45 and 46.

desire to call attention particularly to the process by which only clarified gasoline comes in contact with the fabricsA being cleaned. It has hitherto been customary in d cleaning machines of this character to su merge or partially submerge the fabrics in the cleaning fluid whereby the dirt is not fully removed and a slower and less eflicient operation is carried out. Such a process can also 4readily bemarried` on in this machine with slight modieations of structure but by lowering the liquid level as here shown and permitting only clarified 'gasoline to come in contact with the fabrics the process is hastened and a more thorough cleaning results.

It will be understood that the term cleansing fluid where used in the specification is intended to cover gasoline and similar fluids useful in the art commonly known as dry lthe invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification bu-t only as indicated by the appended claims.

p Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' l. In a dry cleaning machine, a rotary perforated casing having an opening at one end for the passage of fabrics to be cleaned,

`a casing enclosing the drum, an opening `in the ycasing' in line with the opening in the drum, and a lid pivoted at the upper side of said opening whereby the lid may 'open in case of explosion and close again automatically, substantially as set forth.

, 2. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary .perforated drum having a horizontal axis,

a filling opening at one end of the drum, a casing surrounding the drum and having an opening registering with the opening in the drum, a hollow spindle supporting the other end of the drum, and a pipe extending through said spindle to the interior of the drum for distributing' cleansing `fluid over the fabrics in the drum, substantially as set forth.

In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary perforated drum, a casing surrounding the same and having an outlet at its lower endv said casing providinga. reservoir f'or cleans' ing fluidin its lower part, a mud pot below said outlet, a valve between the mud pot andthe outlet, an outer casing surrounding the lower part of the main casing and providing an outer reservoir, and a conduit leading from the upper part of the exterior reservoir back to said drum, substantially' as set forth.

4. Ina dry. cleaningapparatus, a rotary drum, a casingsurrounding the same said casing providing a reservoir for cleansing fluid in its lower part'and having an outlet at its bottom, an exterior reservoir surrounding the first and communicating therewith by way of said outlet, clarifying means tially as set forth.

for thea cleansing fluid, a conduit leading from the upper part of the exterior reservoir to the clarifying means, and a conduit leading from the clarifying means to the interior of the drum for providing a circu. lation of cleansing fluid, substantially as set forth.

5. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary drum, a casing surrounding the same said,l

casing providing -a reservoir for cleansing fluid in its lower part and having an outlet at its bottom, art exterior reservo-ir surrounding the first and .communicating therewith by way of said outlet, clarifying means for the cleansing fluid, a conduit leading from the upper part of the exterior reservoir to the clarifying means, and a conduit leafling through the axis -of the drum to the interior thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary drum, a casing surrounding the same said casing providing a reservoir for cleansing fiud in its lower part and having an outlet at its bott'o'm, an exterior reservoir surrounding the first and communicating there with by way of said outlet, a centrifugal separator, a conduit leading from the upper part of the exterior reservoirto the centrifugal separator, a pump in said conduit, and

Aa conduit for returning the cleansin fluid from the se arator to the drum, su stantially as set Orth.

7 In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary drum, a casing surrounding the same, a hollow spindle journaled in the casing and connected to one end of thedrum for driving the same, said casin providing a reservoir for cleansing flui in its lower part and having an outlet at its bottom, an exterior reservoir surrounding the first and communicating therewith by way of said outlet, a centrifugal separator, a conduit leading from the upper part of the exterior reservoir to the centrifugal separator, a pump in said conduit, and a conduit leading from the centrifugal separator through the hollow spindle to the interior of the drum, substantially as set forth.

8. Ina' dry cleaning apparatus, a rotary drum, a casing surrounding the same the lower part of said casing constituting a reservoir for cleansing fluid and having an out Y exterior reservoir communicating at its 4 lower end with the interior reservoir, a valve directly below said outlet' anda mud pot immediately beneath said valve, substan- 9. A process of dry cleaning comprising agitatin a mass of fabric, pourin cleans-v ing iiui thereon, maintaining a ody of cleansing fluid below the level of said fabrics to act as a settling basin, removing the impurities 'from thecleansing uid after settling and again pouring it on said fabrics, substantially as set forth.

10. A continuous dry cleaning process comprising locating fabrics in position to be cleansed, pouring a cleansing fluid thereon, collecting the fluid as. it leaves the fabrics, allowing the fluid to settle, and thereafter centrifuging the fluid so collected before it again comes into contact with the fabric, substantially as set forth. v

11. In a dry cleaning apparatus, means for supporting textile material in position to be cleaned by application of cleansing fluid, a reservoir receiving the fluid as it drains from said material said reservoir tapering downwardly to an outlet, a mudpot directly below said outlet, and a valye in the passage between the outlet and the mudpot, substantially as set forth.

12. In a dry cleaning apparatus, means for supporting textile material in position to be cleaned by application of cleansing fluid, a reservoir receiving the fluid as it drains from said material said reservoir ta pering downwardly-to an outlet, a mudpot directly below said outlet, and an auxiliary reservoir to which the cleansing fluid passes laterally between the main reservoir and the mudpot, substantially as set forth.

13. In a dry cleaning apparatus, means for supporting textile material in position to be cleaned by application of cleansing fluid, a reservoir receiving the fluid as it drains from said material said reservoir tapering downwardly to an outlet, a mudpot l directly below said outlet, an auxiliary resmesme ervoir to which the cleansing fluid passes laterally between the main reservoir and the mudpot, means for clarifying the cleansing Huid, and an outlet pipe leading from the top of the auxiliary reservoir to the clarifying means, substantially as set forth.l

14. In a dry cleaning apparatus, ,means for supporting textile material in position to be cleaned by application of cleansing fluid, a reservoir receiving the fluid as it drains from said material said reservoir tapering downwardly to an outlet, a mudpot directly below said outlet, an auxiliary reservoir to which the cleansing fluid passes laterally between the main reservoir and the mudpot, means for clarifying the cleansing Huid, an outlet pipe leading from the top of the auxiliary reservoir to the clarifying means, and an emergency outlet near the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir, substantially as set forth.

15. A process of dry cleaning by pouring cleansing fluid on textile material to leach the same, collecting the fluid, maintaining.

the liquid level below the said textile niaterial, purifying the fluid, and returning it to position to be again'poured on the textile material, substantially as set forth.

. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, this 16th day of March, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-three.

EDWARD 2r. wnrrn. 

